A Raven saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid white color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools. But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color, while through want of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot alter Nature.
Introductory Brainstorming
The nature or characteristics of something are difficult to change. Can you think of examples of nature? Hint: gravity
What habits can be easily changed?
Introductory Discussion Questions
What are things that we can change about ourselves?
What are some things that we cannot change about ourselves?
Have you seen a raven or swan? If so, where?
Synonym Matching A
desired feathers
secure wonderful
beautiful pretty
plumage wanted
splendid came from
arose get
Synonym Matching B
washing go out
left died
neighborhood home area
living home
residence cleansing
perished characteristic
habit change
alter job
nature routine
Listening Gap Fill
A Raven ______ a Swan and desired to secure for himself _______ same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid ________ color arose from his washing in the water _____ which he swam, the Raven left the _________ in the neighborhood where he picked up his _________, and took up residence in the lakes and ________. But cleansing his feathers as often as he ________, he could not change their color, while through _______ of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot ________ Nature.
Word Bank Blank Fill
A Raven saw a Swan and desired to 1. ( ) for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid white color arose from his 2. ( ) in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his 3. ( ), and took up residence in the lakes and 4. ( ). But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not 5. ( ) their color, while through want of food he 6. ( ).
Change of habit 7. ( ) alter Nature.
a. washing
b. cannot
c. secure
d. living
e. change
f. perished
g. pools
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
What are things you desire that seem impossible?
If you could have one impossible wish, what would it be?
When could desiring something be bad?
What was the first mistake the Raven made in its thinking?
What advice would you give to someone wanting something impossible?
B
What habits do you wish you could change?
What habit change could be dangerous for you?
When could desiring something be good?
What was the final mistake the Raven made?
What advice would you give to someone who wants to change a habit?
Writing
Rewrite this fable using different animals or humans.
Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching A: desired-->wanted, secure-->get, beautiful-->pretty, plumage-->feathers, splendid-->wonderful, arose-->got up.
Synonym Matching B: washing-->cleansing, left-->go out, neighborhood-->home area, living-->job, residence-->home, perished-->died, habit-->routine, alter-->change,
nature-->characteristic.
Listening Gap Fill: and, the, white, in, altars, living, pools, would, want, alter.
Word Bank Blank Fill: 1. b. secure, 2. a. washing, 3. d. living, 4. g. pools, 5. e. change, 6. f. perished, 7. b. cannot.
Key Vocabulary
raven 乌鸦
swan 天鵝
desire 欲望
to secure 保险
him'self' 自己
same 一样
beautiful 美丽
plumage, feathers 羽毛
supposing 假如
splendid 灿烂
white color 白色
washing, cleansing 洗涤
swam 游泳
left 离开
altars 祭坛
neighborhood 邻里
living 营生
residence 住所
lakes 湖
pools 池
could not change, could not alter 不能改变
want of food 缺乏食物
perished 亡
habit 习惯
nature 性质
Change of habit cannot alter Nature.
Introductory Brainstorming
The nature or characteristics of something are difficult to change. Can you think of examples of nature? Hint: gravity
What habits can be easily changed?
Introductory Discussion Questions
What are things that we can change about ourselves?
What are some things that we cannot change about ourselves?
Have you seen a raven or swan? If so, where?
Synonym Matching A
desired feathers
secure wonderful
beautiful pretty
plumage wanted
splendid came from
arose get
Synonym Matching B
washing go out
left died
neighborhood home area
living home
residence cleansing
perished characteristic
habit change
alter job
nature routine
Listening Gap Fill
A Raven ______ a Swan and desired to secure for himself _______ same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid ________ color arose from his washing in the water _____ which he swam, the Raven left the _________ in the neighborhood where he picked up his _________, and took up residence in the lakes and ________. But cleansing his feathers as often as he ________, he could not change their color, while through _______ of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot ________ Nature.
Word Bank Blank Fill
A Raven saw a Swan and desired to 1. ( ) for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid white color arose from his 2. ( ) in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his 3. ( ), and took up residence in the lakes and 4. ( ). But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not 5. ( ) their color, while through want of food he 6. ( ).
Change of habit 7. ( ) alter Nature.
a. washing
b. cannot
c. secure
d. living
e. change
f. perished
g. pools
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
What are things you desire that seem impossible?
If you could have one impossible wish, what would it be?
When could desiring something be bad?
What was the first mistake the Raven made in its thinking?
What advice would you give to someone wanting something impossible?
B
What habits do you wish you could change?
What habit change could be dangerous for you?
When could desiring something be good?
What was the final mistake the Raven made?
What advice would you give to someone who wants to change a habit?
Writing
Rewrite this fable using different animals or humans.
Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching A: desired-->wanted, secure-->get, beautiful-->pretty, plumage-->feathers, splendid-->wonderful, arose-->got up.
Synonym Matching B: washing-->cleansing, left-->go out, neighborhood-->home area, living-->job, residence-->home, perished-->died, habit-->routine, alter-->change,
nature-->characteristic.
Listening Gap Fill: and, the, white, in, altars, living, pools, would, want, alter.
Word Bank Blank Fill: 1. b. secure, 2. a. washing, 3. d. living, 4. g. pools, 5. e. change, 6. f. perished, 7. b. cannot.
Key Vocabulary
raven 乌鸦
swan 天鵝
desire 欲望
to secure 保险
him'self' 自己
same 一样
beautiful 美丽
plumage, feathers 羽毛
supposing 假如
splendid 灿烂
white color 白色
washing, cleansing 洗涤
swam 游泳
left 离开
altars 祭坛
neighborhood 邻里
living 营生
residence 住所
lakes 湖
pools 池
could not change, could not alter 不能改变
want of food 缺乏食物
perished 亡
habit 习惯
nature 性质
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